Today's Opinions

To the editor:
The Brunswick County Commissioners voted themselves a cash bonus this year. That is akin to the U.S. Congress voting themselves a pay raise each year. This type of playing “fast and loose” with the people’s money has a certain kind of smell to it.
Norman Horne
Ash

I was feeling particularly agitated last week after reading false and libelous claims a local public official wrote about me in a publication across the river when I got a good dose of what I like to call perspective.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, pulls at my heartstrings more than a soldier reunited with his or her family. When I logged onto my Beacon Facebook account Friday afternoon, I noticed that a Brunswick County native, Private First Class Aaron Farmer, returned home safely from Afghanistan, and had recently been reunited with his wife and their young daughter.

Joan Diane Smith, 82, of Carolina Shores, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, in Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center in Wilmington.
She was born on Nov. 7, 1929, in Queens, N.Y., a daughter of the late Andrew and Imogene Grimmig.

It doesn’t matter what side of the dais you’re on, one thing remains true—enough Sunset Beach voters supported Rich Cerrato to secure him a seat as the town mayor.
And clearly, it’s going to be an interesting term.

To the editor:
I am responding to Pam Silberman’s letter in last week’s Beacon.
Ms. Silberman and Mr. Cerrato are not currently in my circle of friends. While I don’t agree with all of our elected officials nationally or locally, I do believe they deserve our respect until they do something to lose it.
Mr. Cerrato has earned a honeymoon period. Respectful dissent is the backbone of this country. Inflammatory rhetoric is disrespectful and counter-productive to the best interests of Sunset Beach.
Joseph Stolfi
Sunset Beach

To the editor:
Why can’t we solve the issue with Social Security by removing the artificial annual contribution cap of $106,800?
I am not saying raise the percentage, but someone like A-Rod making $25 million pays the same Social Security as someone making $106,800 annually, yet he pays his Medicare percentage up to his $25 million salary.
Think about all the extra money we would have in Social Security without this cap.

To the editor:
To my Rourk Branch Library family:
Thank you so much for my surprise retirement party, hugs, cards and the many gifts that you have given me. I will miss all of you. Thank you for caring.
Carol M. Jordan
Rourk library